Hospital Not Closing -Health Minister

Ontario's Health Minister has given assurances that the Rainy River Health Centre's emergency room will not close when the town loses its only doctor next month.

Mayor Deb Ewald says Deb Matthews made the remark during her visit with the Minister last week in Toronto.

Ewald says she didn't get an answer to resolving the town's doctor shortage, but didn't expect to get one at that meeting.

The town wants the Health Ministry to consider a different funding formula that's more attractive to doctors to work in small communities where patient volumes are low.

The town's last remaining doctor is ending his practice April 16.

School Board Expresses Concern with Fuel Prices for Bussing

The Rainy River District School Board wants government to ensure fuel prices in the district are reflected in the rates used in contracts with school bus operators.

That rate is based on a comparison of prices across northern Ontario.

Chair Mike Lewis says it's based on a 98 cent a litre price when local operators are paying closer to $1.30 a litre.

Lewis says government currently does not include prices from the district in its comparison.

Fort Frances Supportive of Registry

Fort Frances is being hailed a leader in a campaign to get a million Ontarians signed to an organ and tissue donor registry.

The Torch of Life passed through yesterday.

Coordinator George Marcello says the town was the first to pass a proclamation supporting the registry.

The registry can be found on the Torch of Life's website.

Koochiching County Looks for State Money

Koochiching County is seeking 12-million dollars from the State of Minnesota bonding bill for its gasification project.

County Commissioner Mike Hanson says the project does has a high ranking by Governor Mark Dayton.

The project proposes to generate energy by burn waste wood and garbage

Possible Gold Deposit Identified

Another possible large gold deposit has been identified in the Rainy River district.

Fairmont Resources believes it's identified, through an aerial survey, property to the east of Atikokan that has similarities to Osisko's Hammond Reef gold project.

Fairmont is planning to follow up on its findings with a drilling project to start this month.